News

Headed to New York for some Lonely Avenue related press and Nick Hornby will be meeting me there to share the duties of talking about our album, posing for pictures.

<br><br>We've got Fallon on Thursday, Oct 14th.
Last week was rehearsing with band for November tour. Ryan Lerman, our new bassist is KILLING it! Much fun to play music with.
Ryan can be seen here:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_WZELtubsA" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_WZELtubsA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_WZELtubsA</a>

<br><br>Don't let the sensitive approach on his videos fool you. He rocks his ass off (we checked-he came into rehearsal with a generous ass and when he left, it was nearly gone)

<br><br>Tambo Man, Chad Chapin has expanded to cover some acoustic guitar as he did on Lonely Avenue and some power toms.
<br>The flood destroyed most of our touring equipment but we've got it all back together and are ready to go. It will all just look a little shinier than it did last time...

<br><br>ABOUT LONELY AVENUE - WEEK ONE

<br><br>I took a deep breath and readied myself for an absolute beating from critics on Lonely Avenue - subtlety and craft will get you slaughtered (unless you're on your first, maybe second album). BUT, as it turns out we've gotten an overwhelmingly good reception with only a few notable exceptions as my new kick ass label Nonesuch have pointed out in their critic quote sheet from week one:
<a href="http://benfolds.com/press" title="http://benfolds.com/press">http://benfolds.com/press</a>

<br>Here's what my mother had to say about one of the negative reviews:

"Dear Benjamin,
f*** that f***ing a**hole at that suckass magazine and the c*** horse he rode in on. That magazine was corporate s*** when I was younger, now its just worn out corporate s***.
Sure, you sing like a pussy on the new album but that writer wouldn't know pussy if it jumped up and bit him on the face.... or a major 9 chord which you've officially worn the f*** out now, thank you I'd rather watch Cheers. Move on Ben. Now the new Hold Steady record - that's s***'s tight. Why don't you make a record like that son?
Oh, and don't forget to take your vitamin D - you don't get enough sunlight and you look like a vampire (and not the new sexy ones but more like RIck Moranis in Ghostbusters)
Anyway, that magazine can suck my dick. Why don't you visit more often?
Love,
Mom"

<br><br>We sold enough records to sneak in some charts - good enough for me. Mainly, I'm happy with the record and glad its out there. Already looking forward to making the next one and I have a ton of ideas.

<br><br>ABOUT MERTON

<br><br>Merton, the fellow who did the wonderful Chatroulette videos that were the call for my Chatroulette video response, dropped by my gig in Denver. We planned to hang backstage and snap a picture to prove we weren't the same person. Honestly, I told him I can't imagine there's a single person who actually still thinks that... or cares. haha. But it looks like he's right! Some think we're the same person. Backstage was too busy so he dropped by my hotel and we made that creepy public service announcement. Shot on my Mac in PhotoBooth. He edited it (in a way that probably fueled the conspiracy theories more than debunk them!) My contribution was the stallion, but that's generally the nature of my contribution... Anyway, the Public Service Announcement can be seen here:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWGXVhBW9SA" title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWGXVhBW9SA">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWGXVhBW9SA</a>

<br><br>I'm in a bloggy mood, which is rare, so I'll write a long one tomorrow...
Night,
Ben